In a recent interview with the Austrian newssite derStandard.at, GNOME designer Jon McCann talks about GNOME OS, the consequences of Canonical leaving GNOME behind, the purported removal of features and the future role of Linux distributions. "I think there was a time when GNOME had kind of a crisis, we didn't know where we wanted to go, we were lacking goals and vision - that was the end of the GNOME2 cycle. So we pulled together and formed a vision where we want to go - and actually did something about it. And now we have been marching on that plan for quite some time."

I for one would really like to see one fully integrated linux-based OS where everything is done to serve the user. Like Apple has managed with their OS X where the UI manages to hide the underlying unix so well that you have to open up a terminal to see its existance. Unfortunately I don't believe that with open source model such a thing is acheivable - too many disagreements which makes it impossible to move towards single perfect goal. Hence the unimagiable number of distros out there, because man can think about the same issue million different ways.

Still such a thing would be doable but single team must be able to manage the whole OS. Everything from the kernel up to beautiful buttons on the screen. Only this way they can achieve the architecture where everything is in harmony and no workarounds/quickhacks are neccessary. Just like Apple and OS X but with Linux kernel and userland and perhaps GNOME UI.

I for one would really like to see one fully integrated linux-based OS where everything is done to serve the user. Like Apple has managed with their OS X where the UI manages to hide the underlying unix so well that you have to open up a terminal to see its existance.

I would argue that for linux users, that is precisely the opposite of serving the user.

You have to look at your userbase before deciding what features are serving them. This is exactly what Gnome is NOT doing ( in fact they're doing the exact opposite).

"I for one would really like to see one fully integrated linux-based OS where everything is done to serve the user. Like Apple has managed with their OS X where the UI manages to hide the underlying unix so well that you have to open up a terminal to see its existance.

I would argue that for linux users, that is precisely the opposite of serving the user. "
It might be the opposite of serving the current users, but if any Linux distribution expects to break through on to a large portion of the average user's desktop, they'll need to do something like an integrated OS X design. News flash: Most users these days don't like to see plain text. It's sad, but it's true. For example, when a kernel update breaks X.org (which needs to be flushed completely before Linux on the desktop has any great chance), dropping the user to a text login prompt isn't acceptable. In fact, updates breaking the system is not acceptable in the first place, and I think we'll only solve such problems with a tightly integrated os designed by a dedicated, paid, team. As it stands now, even among one distribution, there are too many people pulling in too many directions not to mention upstream going off on their own, and the system feels more like a slap dash attempt at a cohesive environment than a true operating system.

Integration is not only quality packages, it is mor about the specific custom tools for that particular system. Users would really appreciate if there are GUI tools for changing all the aspects of the system, which are able to change specific lines of the specific config files in specific locations. This would be the total enemy of the universal software but it is the only way to win the users.

So the purpose built software for a single integrated linux distro is the key. Thats what I believe GNOME OS is about.